Chicago's working families deserve a living wage today

Today, our Aldermen voted to raise the minimum wage to $13 in five years. I was one of many Chicagoans who worked with labor and community groups to raise the minimum wage, and I applaud the City Council for finally taking a step in the right direction, butI believe Chicago's working families deserve more than $13 an hour in five years.

If the minimum wage had kept pace with U.S. productivity it would have reached over $21 an hour today. Our families deserve a living wage of no less than $15 an hour now. By voting yes on amending the minimum wage ordinance, Alderman Rey Colon asked Chicagoans to wait five years for a $13 an hour minimum wage. Five years is too long, and it's made all the more offensive when you consider Alderman Colon will raise his own salary to $115,465 in just 29 days. Big corporations can more than afford to pay their workers a $15 an hour living wage today, but regular Chicagoans cannot afford politicians who don't put our families first.

Today's vote deepened my resolve to win on February 24th and win a $15 an hour minimum wage for Chicago's workers.

Paid for by Carlos for Chicago. A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is (or will be) available on the Board’s official website (www.elections.il.gov) or for purchase from the State Board of Elections, Springfield, Illinois.